Holidays

Kelly King speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors on behalf of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition at Kenai Catering on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Realtors donate duffel bags for 7th year

The bags are filled with holiday gifts for participants in the Students in Transition program

 

A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward to celebrate holidays with fireworks, decorating contest

Fireworks are set for Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.

 

Blue sits for a photo with Santa during Bark, Block and Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Food bank to host Christmas meal, Santa photos

The Kenai Peninsula Food Bank will this month host an opportunity for photos with Santa in addition to its annual Christmas meal. Office Manager Claire… Continue reading

 

Harley St. Clair, 5 weeks old, meets Santa Claus for the first time at Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A magical, feel-good night’

Christmas in the Park brings festivities, light to Soldotna

Harley St. Clair, 5 weeks old, meets Santa Claus for the first time at Christmas in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus waves at children from atop a Kenai Fire Department engine on Frontage Street in Kenai, Alaska, as part of the Electric Lights Parade on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas cheer lights up chilly Kenai evening

Electric Lights Parade closes Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities on Nov. 29

Santa Claus waves at children from atop a Kenai Fire Department engine on Frontage Street in Kenai, Alaska, as part of the Electric Lights Parade on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jace and Tali Kimmel share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus during Christmas Comes to Kenai at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas Comes to Kenai opens with Santa, reindeer, gifts

The festivity will continue in the evening with the electric light parade and fireworks

Jace and Tali Kimmel share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus during Christmas Comes to Kenai at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Clarion Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak harvests a newsroom Christmas tree from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Arc Lake outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas tree harvesting available around Kenai Peninsula

Trees may be harvested until Christmas Day

Clarion Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak harvests a newsroom Christmas tree from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Arc Lake outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Henry Dera, of Crooked Creek Birch, chats with shoppers at the 33rd Annual Holiday Bazaar at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Holiday craft fairs bring seasonal cheer, locally made gift options

The bazaar had a variety of vendors displaying their wares, including hot sauces, quilts, furs, soaps and more

Henry Dera, of Crooked Creek Birch, chats with shoppers at the 33rd Annual Holiday Bazaar at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elodi Frisk delivers Thanksgiving meals to seniors during the Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Kenai Senior Center banquet hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Giving thanks together

Seniors gather for annual Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon

Kenai Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elodi Frisk delivers Thanksgiving meals to seniors during the Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Kenai Senior Center banquet hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Food bank seeks turkey donations as Thanksgiving nears

The local food bank is calling for donations of $25 to “Adopt-A-Turkey” for a local family in need

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski takes a selfie with Rose Burke at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Burke won the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington, D.C., in December to light the tree. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Connections student to light U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Rose Burke, 9, won the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington D.C.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski takes a selfie with Rose Burke at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Burke won the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington, D.C., in December to light the tree. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A pumpkin tumbles from a plane above the Kenai Airpark near Kenai, Alaska, during the Sixth Annual Kenai Aviation Pumpkin Drop on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Pumpkins dropped at annual aviation showcase

Kenai Aviation puts on 6th annual Pumpkin Drop

A pumpkin tumbles from a plane above the Kenai Airpark near Kenai, Alaska, during the Sixth Annual Kenai Aviation Pumpkin Drop on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Pumpkins wait to be dropped from planes for the entertainment of people during Kenai Aviation’s Fifth Annual Pumpkin Drop at the Kenai Municipal Airport Operations Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Costumes, pumpkins and seasonal scares

Peninsula packs October with Halloween events

Pumpkins wait to be dropped from planes for the entertainment of people during Kenai Aviation’s Fifth Annual Pumpkin Drop at the Kenai Municipal Airport Operations Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Little League proceeds down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Celebrating Independence in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Fourth of July Parade

The Soldotna Little League proceeds down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Poppies are affixed to wreaths during a Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hanson Memorial Park in Kenai on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Remembering the sacrifices of the fallen

Speakers ask community to be inspired through sacrifice of service members

Poppies are affixed to wreaths during a Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hanson Memorial Park in Kenai on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Children hunt for Easter eggs during the Easter Eggstravaganza at Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Saturday.

Easter eggs, bunnies arrive on the Kenai Peninsula

There are plenty of opportunities to grab a photo with the Easter bunny or seek out some eggs

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Children hunt for Easter eggs during the Easter Eggstravaganza at Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Saturday.
A child waves from the back of a truck as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

St. Patrick’s Day parade set for Sunday

The annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, hosted by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, kicks off at 2 p.m.

A child waves from the back of a truck as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
An array of Christmas lights brighten up the night outside the home of Gary Hale in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A season for lights

Residents brighten up the night with elaborate Christmas decorations

An array of Christmas lights brighten up the night outside the home of Gary Hale in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Santa Claus joins children for some hockey action during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai on Monday.

Skating with Santa

Santa Claus arrived on an ATV and hit the ice himself, skating, playing hockey and greeting children

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Santa Claus joins children for some hockey action during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai on Monday.
The Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors sits with duffel bags of Christmas gifts donated to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition program at Kenai Catering in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Realtors donate duffel bags in annual tradition

The Students in Transition program serves students experiencing housing instability

The Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors sits with duffel bags of Christmas gifts donated to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition program at Kenai Catering in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)